To relieve the worries of its Las Vegas show attendees, GLDA Inc., Tucson, AZ, and its estimated 150-200 Hong exhibitors developed a strategy that will allow exhibitors from SARS-affected countries to safely work GLDA's May 27-29 show.

The new policy, suggested by GLDA's Hong Kong contingent, involves a voluntary 10-day quarantine and daily health checks, among other measures.

Each person traveling from Hong Kong or other SARS-affected areas to exhibit at a Hong Kong booth will arrive in Las Vegas 10 days prior to the show and voluntarily go into quarantine until the show's opening. Before leaving Hong Kong, all exhibitors and booth workers will get a clean bill of health from their doctors and will bring it, along with X-rays, to GLDA. The show will maintain a health office staffed by health workers and Hong Kong exhibitors and their workers will be checked daily for fever and other SARS symptoms.

A letter that went out May 8 to GLDA's past attendees, as a follow-up to an April 29 letter informing them of the SARS strategy, states "we have received overwhelming support from you indicating the preventative measures do allay your concerns."

In related news, an Associated Press report published May 7 on SARS bans and restrictions around the world mentioned: "Hong Kong complained that organizers of a Las Vegas jewelry show want to banish Hong Kong dealers to an isolated tent because of SARS fears. 'We think it is unnecessary as well as unreasonable' because Hong Kong screens people before they leave the territory, commerce secretary Henry Tang said."

Professional Jeweler has been unable to confirm which of the many shows taking place in Las Vegas in the late May-early June this story refers to. Calls to the JCK Show, which holds the largest show in Las Vegas, have not yet been returned.